Therapeutic exercise device

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic exercise device, including receptacle means designed to support a person&#39;s lower or upper extremities. A substantially rectangular support base ( 10 ) is slidably associated with the carriage ( 16 ), in such a manner as to allow a longitudinal displacement of the carriage on the support base. In addition an adjustable resistance arrangement is included to allow increased frictional resistance in between the carriage, and the support base Consequently with increased frictional resistance, increased muscular energy is required to achieve the longitudinal displacement of the carriage on the support base. Thus a more versatile therapeutic device is provided, that permits a simple and accurate measurement of the rehabilitation performance of the lower or upper extremity affected. This device may be employed for strengthening abdominal and back muscles in the process of physical therapy, especially in facilitating Mc Kinsey exercises for lower back. Also, the present invention may be employed as a transferring device for a patient from one surface such as a wheelchair, to another surface such as a bed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] PPA Ser. No. 60/406267 filed Aug. 27, 2002

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to therapeutic portable exercising devicesfor conditioning and strengthening the muscles and tendons in the leg.Also this device may be employed in the therapeutic rehabilitation ofthe upper extremities and lower back exercises.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Lower extremity injuries and other types of debilitatingillnesses frequently require prolonged immobilization which tends tocause general weakening of the muscles in the human body. Appropriatemedical devices are therefore used in the process of physicalrehabilitation. The use of portable leg exercising devices of knowndesigns and configuration is known in prior art:

[0004] a. By way of example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,001 to Roman, U.S.Pat. No. 6,224,521B1 to Foucault and U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,448B1 toHassler, inventors created several types of portable leg exercisedevices where the knee and hip are constrained to move in a linearfashion.

[0005] b. Furthermore, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,271 to Gonzales and U.S.Pat. No. 6,056,675 to Aruin inventors created portable leg exercisedevices which are designed to be used by a person in a sitting position.

[0006] c. Lastly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,530 to Hess, inventor created aportable leg exercise apparatus where resistance is provided by one ormore elastic cords. These types of devices may be dangerous fordebilitated patients because of the specific elastic load tensioncreated while exercising.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The general purpose of the present invention is to providespecific structural and functional arrangements for a more versatiletherapeutic exercise device for rehabilitation professionals andpatients. A person may exercise with this device in a supine or sittingposition.

[0008] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises agenerally rectangular base support having a generally flat top surface.The top carriage is mounted on a guide block which is slidably guided bytrack members of a rectangular shape inserted on the top of the basesupport. The carriage assembly typically includes, on the top surface, apair of spaced receptacles designed to support the feet, hands or elbowsof the user. Furthermore, typically a loop and hook fastener arrangementmay be provided to attach the desired body member to the carriage. Aplurality of hand adjustable elements will be provided with the purposeof side way slack elimination in between one side of the rectangularboard and the corresponding inner side of the carriage in an appropriatemanufactured recess to maintain if desired a sliding resistance. Inaddition, in order to provide increased sliding resistance control, aplurality of spring loaded resistance hand adjustable elements areprovided laterally, towards each end of the carriage side.

[0009] Other objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwhere a particular embodiment of the invention is disclosed as anillustrative example.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0010] Accordingly, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuingneed for a new more versatile exercise device which is hand portable,easy to handle and to use in the process of human rehabilitation. Inthis regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

[0011] Therefore, several objects and advantages of the presentinvention are:

[0012] a. To provide a hand portable leg exercise device where the kneeis not constrained to move only in a linear fashion

[0013] b. To provide an easy to handle lower and upper extremityexercise device, that can be comfortably used in a supine, prone or in asitting position.

[0014] c. To provide an exercise device that is safe and simple to usein a wide range of applications in the physical rehabilitation process.

[0015] Particularly, the carriage can be moved by the user with anappropriate set degree of resistance in between the carriage and thesupport base according to the user's therapeutic needs. In the case of apatient with a stroke, the affected lower extremity needs to besubjected to a process called neuromuscular rehabilitation whereextensive movement is recommended for the affected lower extremity andextensive hands on physical therapy is required.

[0016] With the present invention decreased professional hands ontherapy is needed, since the patient will be able to assist the movementof the affected extremity with the assistance of the healthy extremityon the carriage. In the process of lower extremity rehabilitation a loopand hook fastener arrangement may be provided to support the affectedlower thigh to the stronger lower thigh, thus preventing unwantedexternal rotation in the weak leg. In the case that increased range ofmotion is desired in the affected leg such as due to contraction after atotal knee replacement, the patient can assist with the stronger lowerextremity in order to achieve increased range of motion in the operatedknee.

[0017] Another advantage of the present invention , even though isdesigned primarily as a therapeutic exercise device, is the fact that itmay be used as a sliding board for transferring a person with physicallimitations from one surface to another in sitting position.

[0018] Further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuingdescription. It is to be understood that the invention is capable ofother embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in variousways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the therapeutic lower extremityexercise device in accordance with the present invention with thecarriage and platform arrangement shown in the middle position on thesupport base.

[0020]FIG. 1A illustrates a cross sectional view of the adjustablysliding resistance arrangement of the preferred embodiment.

[0021]FIG. 1B is perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention with the detachable platform arrangement removed.

[0022]FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention in aperspective View.

[0023]FIG. 2A illustrates a cross sectional view of the track railadjustable resistance mechanism according to FIG. 2, of the slidingresistance arrangement mounted medially to the underside of thecarriage.

[0024]FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention with anair pressure resistance arrangement.

[0025]FIG. 3A illustrates a cross sectional view of the track rail incombination with the air pressure arrangement.

[0026]FIG. 3B is an illustrative diagrammatic representation of the airpressure arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0027]FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. It mainly comprises a generally rectangular support base 10having a substantially flat top surface and a carriage 16. The carriageis slidably associated with the support base by a track rail 12 in sucha manner as to enable the carriage to move relative to the support basein a longitudinal fashion. As it is further apparent from FIG. 1B thecarriage 16 is mounted on the guide block 14 with fasteners 16A. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 1A the carriage also includes a lateral slidablemember 30 and an adjustable screw spring plunger 24 associated with thelateral guide track 22, in such a manner as to provide the ability of areaction force against the longitudinal movement of the carriage 16relative to the support base 10.

[0028] The support base and the carriage may be constructed of anysuitable material, including but not limited to laminated wood,aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, or any combination of these materials Thetrack rail 12, the guide block 14, and the lateral slidable member 30may be constructed of slidable polymer-lined elements such as McMaster-Carr catalog part No. 6723K13 and 6723K42 or any other suitablelow friction elements such as ball bearing elements guided by the trackrail in a suitable manner.

[0029] As FIG. 1 shows, a platform arrangement 18 is removably attachedto the carriage 16 with fastener means 16B. The platform arrangement 18includes a pair of spaced apart receptacles 18A, designed to support thefeet of the user with his or her shoes on. Also, the receptacles 18A mayinclude a plurality of hook and loop fastener arrangements 18B with thepurpose to provide increased support for user's feet while exercising.

[0030] In certain stages of the therapeutic process, it is desirable tomake the movement of the carriage more difficult by imposing aresistance force thereon which must be overcome to slide the carriage onthe support base. In the preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 1A, theresistance force is provided by the adjustable screw spring plunger 24and it may be supplemented by Belleville disc springs 32 available bycatalog order such as the Mc Master Carr. The sliding resistance forcemay be adjusted either by one screw plunger 24 or by both if deemednecessary.

[0031] Furthermore, this embodiment of the present invention includestravel stops 20 mounted laterally on the support base in the lateralguide track 22.

[0032] As will be apparent on examining FIG. 1A, an adjusting knob 26 isremovably attached to one end of the screw spring plunger 24 with setscrews 26A to prevent the adjusting knob to turn on the screw.

[0033] Furthermore, the adjusting knob 26 is preferably marked withnumbers in such a manner as to show the direction trend of the slidingresistance. By tightening the adjusting knob 26 clockwise, the attachedmale screw plunger 24 is guided by a female threaded insert 28 and willexert increased mechanical pressure on the lateral sliding member 30.Consequently, when increased mechanical pressure is applied on thesliding member 30, increased lower extremity muscle energy is requiredto achieve the longitudinal sliding motion of the carriage on thesupport base. This will result in increased neuromuscular control in theexercised lower extremity. It is known by one familiar with the art thatwhen increased range of motion is the goal of exercise the bending orstretching of the lower extremity is done in increments, as many as apatient may tolerate. With the present invention, this may be achievedby stretching or bending the lower extremity in a tolerable position.The carriage 16 may be locked on the base support 10 by clockwisetightening the adjusting knob 26 as much as needed to prevent sliding ofthe carriage on the support base. When the patient can tolerate furthermovement of the lower extremity, the carriage may be longitudinallydisplaced on the support base per patient tolerance.

[0034] As seen in FIG. 1B the platform arrangement 18 may be removed,whereby making possible for the present device to be employed as atransferring board.

[0035]FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Thedetails of this embodiment are best illustrated in FIG. 2 in conjunctionwith FIG. 2A. As described previously in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention; similarly this embodiment includes a carriage 16which is slidably associated with the support base 10 by means of atrack rail 12 and guide block 14. In order to permit decreased frictionoperation, the guide block 14 may be mounted on ball bearingarrangements which are guided by the track rail 12.

[0036] Furthermore, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 2A in conjunction, thesliding resistance force may be adjusted by an adjustable knob 46attached to a generally cylindrical member 44. The cylindrical member isconstructed in such a manner as to have a clockwise female thread onpart of its length, plus a counter clockwise female thread on anotherpart of its length. Furthermore, the generally cylindrical member 44 isfunctionally connected with two accommodating male threaded screw springplungers 42 and 42A which are removable supported by a plurality ofbrackets 88 or any other suitable means to the underside of the carriage16. As is further evident from FIGS. 2 and 2A the screw plunger isintended to be connected to a low friction slideable member 40, aplurality of lock nuts 42B and 42C may be provided to prevent unwantedmovement of the screw plungers. Instead of the slidable member 40, arollable element such as polymer coated ball bearings may be employed.In addition a plurality of adjustable travel stops 92 may be provided inorder to limit the length of the travel of the carriage 16 in the railtrack 12.

[0037] The sliding resistance in between the carriage 16 and the trackrail 12 may be increased by rotating the adjustable knob 46 attached tothe cylindrical member 44 counter clockwise. This rotation will cause alinear movement of the associated plungers 42 and 42A in such a manneras to increase the pressure on the sliding members 40 against the innerside walls of the track rail 12.

[0038] As seen in FIG. 2, in addition a lateral guide track 50 may bemounted longitudinally on each lateral side of the support base 10.Furthermore each track 50 includes a plurality of guide blocks 52. Theguide block 52 includes removable connective means such as hooks whichmay be employed in combination other fastener means such as adjustablestraps, hook-and-loop fastener, or any other suitable means deemednecessary to assist in the process of stretching the affected lowerextremity.

[0039]FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.The details of this embodiment are best illustrated in FIG. 3A.

[0040] As described previously in FIGS. 2 and 2A of the presentinvention, similarly this embodiment includes a carriage 16 which isslidably associated with the support base 10 by means of a track rail12A and guide block 14. As is further evident from FIG. 3, the carriagealso includes an arrangement of adjustable set screw 60 and 60 B whichare medially connected to the knob 46 and laterally to a plurality ofrolling elements 62 which are supported in place by brackets 64 and 64A.Furthermore, as FIG. 3 indicates the set screws 64 and 64A arepreferably mounted with brackets 88, similarly to FIG.2, to theunderside of the carriage 16 in a manner that enables the user to adjustthe resistance force of the longitudinal displacement of the carriageover the support base 10. Typically, the resistance force is applied onan intermediate wear strip 66, as seen in FIG. 3A, towards the innerlongitudinal side walls of the guide track 12A which is mounted on thetop surface of the support base 10. An elongated inflatable member 68 isinserted longitudinally and is positioned in between the innerlongitudinal side wall of the guide track 12 and the wear strip 66.

[0041] In addition as seen in FIG. 3B the present embodiment includes anair flow directional check valve 70 which allows the inflatable member68 to be pressurized by means such as a generic air pump. Furthermore anadditional check valve 76, an air flow control valve 78 and an airpressure gauge 74 are connected to each longitudinal end of thepressurized inflatable member 68.The longitudinal ends of the inflatablemember 68 are connected through air conductive means such as coppertubing arrangement 80 inserted laterally to the track rail 12 in thesupport base 10. Similarly to the previous embodiments of the presentinvention the carriage 16 in this embodiment is longitudinally displacedon the support base 10 by muscle energy. When increased slidingresistance is desired, the knob 46 is rotated counterclockwise. Thismovement will have an effect of increased positive air pressure in theinflatable member 68 which corresponds with increased sliding resistanceof the carriage 16 on the support base 10.Consequently increasedmuscular energy is required to initiate a longitudinal displacement ofthe carriage 16 on the support base 10.

[0042] Depending on the directional movement of the carriage 16, part ofthe air contained in the inflatable member 68 will be forced in a closedcircuit manner through the directional check valve 76 located at thecorresponding longitudinal end of the inflatable member. Furthermore theforced air will continue to flow through the tubing 80 towards theopposite end of the longitudinal member 68. The air pressure gauges 74in this embodiment of the present invention have a function to preventover inflation of the inflatable member 68 and, to measure the slidingresistance in combination with the knob 46.

[0043] Accordingly, the reader will see that the previously describedembodiments of the present invention provide a portable versatile andeasy to use therapeutic device for lower extremities. In addition, thisinvention permits a simple method of adjusting the sliding resistance,and the recording of measurements if desired. In this way, therehabilitation progress can be properly recorded and demonstrated.

[0044] Although the description above contains many specificities, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but asmerely providing illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments ofthis invention. Any combination of the previously described features maybe considered in any of the embodiments of the present invention. Thus,the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claimsand their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.

I claim:
 1. A therapeutic exercise device comprising: a. A carriageassembly in combination with means for supporting a human's lower orupper extremity. b. A substantially rectangular support base havingmeans that enables said carriage to be movable in a substantiallylongitudinal path on said base support. c. A plurality of adjustableresistance means attached to said carriage.
 2. The therapeutic exercisedevice according to claims 1 wherein the support base has asubstantially rectangular top surface, that includes a longitudinallymounted track rail slidably connected to a guide block inserted in saidtrack rail.
 3. The therapeutic exercise device according to claim 1wherein the carriage assembly is attached to the guide block, and islongitudinally displaceable in the track rail by a drive force producedby muscular power.
 4. The therapeutic exercise device according to claim1 wherein the carriage assembly includes a removable platform, saidplatform having at least one arrangement for supporting a person's loweror upper extremity.
 5. The therapeutic exercise device according toclaim 1 wherein the arrangement of resistance force means is constructedin such a manner as to enable a person to adjust different levels ofresistance on the displacement of the carriage longitudinally on thesupport base.
 6. A therapeutic exercise device comprising: a. Agenerally rectangular support base. b. A carriage slideably associatedwith said support base. c. A recessed guide track affixed laterally onthe side of the base support on its length.
 7. The therapeutic exercisedevice of claim 6 wherein a plurality of end travel stops for thecarriage are mounted in the recessed lateral guide.
 8. The therapeuticexercise device of claim 6 wherein an arrangement of resistance forcemeans is attached laterally along the side of the carriage that is inapposition with the recessed lateral guide track on the support base. 9.The therapeutic exercise device of claim 6 wherein a plurality of screwspring plungers are hand adjustable thereby enabling side slackelimination between the support base and carriage. Furthermore, saidscrew spring plungers enable a sliding resistance force of the carriageon the support base.
 10. The therapeutic exercise device of claim 6wherein the carriage is adapted to support a person in a sittingposition for a transfer movement from one surface such as a wheelchairto another surface such as a bed.
 11. The therapeutic exercise device ofclaim 10 wherein a platform is removably attached on the carriage, saidplatform including means for supporting a human's feet, such as anarrangement of concave receptacles in combination with loop and hookfasteners.
 12. A therapeutic exercise device comprising: a. A generallyrectangular support base. b. A carriage assembly including means forsupporting a human's lower or upper extremity, slidably associated withsaid support base. c. A plurality of adjustable resistance force meansattached to said carriage.
 13. The therapeutic exercise device of claim12 wherein the resistance force is provided by an arrangement whichincludes a plurality of screw spring plungers connected to a handaccessible adjusting member, said adjusting member is marked as toenable different levels of resistance of the longitudinal displacementof the carriage on the support base to be displayed.
 14. The therapeuticexercise device of claim 12 further including at least an elongated airinflatable element aligned with at least one of the inner longitudinalside walls of the guide track, in combination with air pressurecontrolling means.
 15. The therapeutic exercise device of claim 14wherein the carriage assembly includes rolling means connected to thescrew spring plungers.
 16. The therapeutic exercise device of claim 14wherein an intermediate wear strip is placed longitudinally in betweenthe rolling means attached to the screw spring plunger and the elongatedair inflatable element.
 17. The therapeutic exercise device of claim 14further including at least one air flow directional check valve, andmeans of air pressure reading such as air pressure gauges.